MOVE Week activities move hundreds of thousands of people around the world
23/05/2024Eszter Anna Szaniszlo, ISCA
As we flip the calendar to late spring (or autumn), it’s time to lace up your trainers, grab your water bottle, and join the global community in celebrating the 13th MOVE Week! MOVE Week is a vibrant annual celebration of physical activity, encouraging individuals of all ages and abilities to #BeActive and embrace a healthier lifestyle, taking place this year between 27 May and 2 June. With plenty of free sports events spanning across more than 30 countries and involving hundreds of thousands of participants, this week-long celebration is set to ignite a worldwide passion for fitness and wellbeing.
MOVE Week is not just about breaking a sweat; it's also about the culture of inclusivity and sustainability. MOVE Week National Coordinators and MOVE Agents from all over the world are organising various sporting activities that cater to every interest and capability. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or taking your first steps towards being more fit, there's something for everyone during this special week.
Inclusivity is at the heart of MOVE Week this year, with a concerted effort to involve every generation and individuals with disabilities. Many of the sporting events organised by MOVE Agents and partners are carefully curated to be accessible to all, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and benefits of physical activity. Whether it's adaptive sports for people with disabilities or intergenerational yoga sessions, MOVE Week aims to break down barriers and create a more inclusive and active community.
The diversity of events during MOVE Week is vast, ranging from traditional sports like football, running, volleyball, cycling, or basketball to unconventional activities like urban hiking and outdoor climbing. By taking part in MOVE Week, participants can expect not only the opportunities to move their bodies but also to participate in fun community events such as a hike in the woods of Vienna, European Mile in Finland, and Latvia, a bodybuilding competition and festival events in Greece, series of fun street sport activities and challenges in Malta, festivals and flash mobs in Ukraine, and much more.
The largest number of events is registered by the Czech Republic so far, with 108 colourful and exciting events: open days in gyms, sport-related workshops, tennis tournaments, sports week in schools, tandem duathlon, and more than 100 other activities.
Another partner, V4Sport Foundation, from Poland, approaches MOVE Week with fun and easy exercises. They have made a set of short videos that can be a guide and compass for Active Break Plans in kindergartens and primary schools. They are ready to provide inclusion and open most of their activities to children with disabilities.
Crossing some seas or even one of the oceans, we will find MOVE Week activities all over the globe. There is an event announced in Brazil that will promote alternative forms of sports, teachers will hold preventive exercise sessions to help kids integrate healthy lifestyles in Oman, and do not be surprised if you find yourself trying some sports activities in Morocco either.
Explore all the MOVE Week events by clicking here
A standout feature of this year’s MOVE Week is the heightened focus on sustainability, championed by MOVE Agents. To promote eco-friendly practices, many of the activities will be followed by organised rubbish collection events. These initiatives not only help keep the environment clean but also instil a sense of environmental responsibility among participants. Organisers are keen to highlight that sports events are even more enjoyable when conducted without waste. This approach ensures that the positive impact of MOVE Week extends beyond physical health to include the well-being of our planet.
Mark your calendars, rally your friends and family, and get ready to move! During MOVE Week, the only limit is your imagination. Let's make this the most active, inclusive, and sustainable MOVE Week yet. See you at the starting line!